Introduction to Cyber Bulling
Just a small introduction on Cyber Bullying. What is Cyber Bullying? Well, Cyber bullying is defined as using the computer or other electronic devices to intimidate, threaten or humiliate another individual person, Cyber bullying can happen in many different areas such as e-mails, Web sites, text messaging, cell phones, three-way calling, video,msn, blogs and any other form of communication that occurs online. Sometimes Cyber bullies(One who bully victims), but not always, know their victims in real life.
Effect on the Victims
Now this is the main focus on my topic, why does Cyber Bullying lead Victims to suicide? I was quite stunned by these stories of When Cyber-Bullying Turns Deadly that said of a girl who committed suicide after being cyber bullied. I was quite amazed that such a things like cyber bully could makes one end their life just like that. So I decided to research into it, and found out that most people (those victims) who committed suicide were people who takes thing much emotionally, and tends to take it upon their heart on what others says to them. This is a link to a video that shows the victims that were Cyber Bullied.
Video Links
This talk about some girls who has been cyber bullied. One of girl developed this fear of going to school because of her ex-school friends who bullied her online, and even over the phone because she spends load of times on the internet and mobile phone. Before she was being cyber bully, she was a top student in school, a girl who likes to attend school. But after being bullied online, she started to run away from school and obtain bad result. So through this video I have learn that being cyber-bullied can totally change your life.
Ways to Prevent Cyber Bullying
The first step is to stop responding to the cyber bully. Do not reply to their emails, posts, or text messages. This is what the bully want. They want you to engage with them and then manipulate you into responding them and if you respond in any way that is emotional or lets them know that they are getting to you and are able to make you upset it only encourages the cyber bully to continue doing it.
Second step is that, whatever the cyber bully message you, keep it! Do not delete it, because every message send over the Internet could be traced, and you can give it to the police to investigate on because laws regarding bullying and cyber bullying are finally being passed.
You can also visit this website to have more information on how to prevent cyber bullying.
StopCyberBullying
Reflections
So after researching on it, I found out there are different forms of cyber bullying, examples like SMS, Email, Games and etc. I also kind of understand why some victims committed suicide after being bullied, because they were always constantly being aimed at.
If I’m not wrong, Singapore does not face such problems with cyber bullying that lead to suicide yet. Mostly because Singaporean are used to being flamed by others be it in schools or Internet. So let hope that Singapore will not have such cases even in near future.
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Do you mean to say that flaming is different from cyber-bullying? Of is it because flaming is so common that netizens have learnt how to handle cyber-bullying?
ReplyDeleteYou mentioned that suicide is one of the effects of cyber-bullying. Yes, it's an extreme effect. Do you know how many turn to suicide as a result of cyber-bullying? What about other possible effects?
You mentioned a couple of useful ways on how to handle cyber bullying. Are there others?
Oh, your video link doesn't seem to be working.
Oh, typo in your title...
ReplyDeleteSuicide is one possible effect of cyberbullying - it's an extreme one. What are other possible effects of cyber bullying?
ReplyDeleteTry to incorporate your video links, etc more seamlessly, and do cite sources or provide links to where you obtained info.
The video link doesn't seem to be working?
Flaming is common over the net, so "most" people will not take it to heart(meaning ignoring them). Other than the "most" people, victims will kind of start questioning themselve if what the person sayings is true.
ReplyDeleteNot really sure of how many turn to sucide, but there's a high number of it. and most of the cases happened in US(saw it in some random sites while researching).
ps: the video link is working fine for me(i just tested it out), i think you have to click on the play button in order for it to start buffering.
I agree that if one takes things too seriously and emotionally regardless of virtual or real will lead to lots of undesireable cases.
ReplyDeleteThe example you quote is like suicide. It could also lead to murder due to hatred.
Yes, the video can play , just requires time to buffer.
Cheers everyone
Well, i agree with Alan that flaming is considerably common on the virtual world. However i disagree that such flaming and accusation should be taken lightly, or even disregarded. These problems could easily escalate into something very undesirable.
ReplyDeleteIn addition, I agree that drastic measures should be adopted to curb such a negative trend's growth. I agree with the proposal in one of the videos, to pass a bill that criminalizes cyber bullying. This could help save many innocent lives. This is especially crucial as many youths are getting more insensitive, and yet ironically, over-sensitive at the same time. The following could be a tongue twister, but true: being over-sensitive to insensitivity could be disadvantageous to mental health, and the same could be said for its vice-versa.
I am glad that cyberbullying is not as prevalent as in other countries.
ReplyDeleteCyberbullies are even more cowardly than those non-cyberbullies.
Never take a bunch of weaklings who resort to hiding behind an electronic device to bully others seriously.
Syahir
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that if we receive messages from cyber-bully we should not reply as that is exactly what they want. However, what if the bully persistently send insulting or humiliating messages? Should we change our email address to a new one?
We seldom see cases of cyber-bullying in Singapore. Maybe because there are organizations out there that monitors and offers help to cases like these.
After reading your blog, I have a deeper understanding on what cyber bullying leads to, it's causes and effects.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Jensen's view, that a bill should be passed, making cyber bullies a criminal. That way, they should think twice before attempting to bully others online again.
- James
Chen Wei Xi
ReplyDeleteActually I am also quite surprised as to how victims of cyber-bullying can drive themselves to suicide. Like you said, they may take things too hard and this emotional stress might be too much for them to handle. Personally, I feel that those who comitted suicide from cyber-bullying lack the strength and support to change their life of a victim.
You also said that the victims of cyber-bully should keep their messages in as they could be traced. However, don't you think it would be quite ipossible to arrest the bully if he lives in the US for example. Furthemore, even if they could be traced, most bullies would be anonymous, in the sense that they could be faking their accounts or identity. How do you think this can help a victim? Not only that, if you keep your messages, you would keep on seeing it everytime you open your email. This could only add to your anger and humiliation.
Reading this post reminded me of my experience. I guess in some context, I have been a victim of SMS cyber bullying a few years ago. I took it rather emotionally as I was still new to cyber bullying by SMS back then and I wondered how did someone that wanted to hurt me got my number. Fortunately, the number of messages I received were few and my parents encouraged me to ignore it. I never received any more of such messages anymore.
ReplyDeleteBased on this experience, I agree with weixi that keeping the messages with you adds on to one's anger and humiliation. If a bully has the intention of bullying someone, they most probably are smart enough to use a bogus account and be anonymous, so tracing the bully wouldn't be easy. Good observations, weixi :)
So since tracing the bully wouldn't necessary be successful, what other ways do you suggest?
Jack mentioned that one shouldn't take things too seriously whether virtually or in the real world. That is indeed true, but if cyber bullying isn't taken seriously as something that can be damaging by the authorities, then more cases will arise and they will be more severe. It should be taken seriously by the authorities, as any other crimes, so that innocent people can be protected.
Wow, suicide is a serious thing and glad that it had never happened in singapore. regarding what u had mentioned, "save it and it might be useful for investigation" you make a great point there, reporting to the police is the best way. afterall, singapore is an law and order country and i am sure the police would do something about it.
ReplyDeleteHas anyone manage to overcome being cyber bully? Or most of the cases end up being suicide case?
ReplyDeleteNowadays, people take life for granted. When a minor problem can’t be solved, they would choose to give up like commit suicide. For example, getting dump by a boyfriend or girlfriend.
I think that avoiding is not a good way to handle the problem. They should approach other people for help for example teacher, parents to tell them the problem they are facing.
This is the first time that i hear the words "cyber bullying", you have given me a very good expanation about this topic. And i think that this is very serious, cyber bullying should be consider as crime so that it can be reduced effectively.
ReplyDeleteIn reply to Kat's question, I suggest that if the matter isn't that serious, the best way to handle it is to ignore it. Otherwise, why not play along with the bully? I shan't elaborate on how to play along as i guess we'd all be smart enough to come up with our own unique ways.
ReplyDeleteIn contrast, if the matter is serious OR implicates more than just the victim, then it could be brought to the knowledge of relevant authorities and let them handle the case. Afterall, there are still fundamental laws that ensure the primary safety of all citizens.
As mentioned by Weiliang in Syahir's blog, cyber bullying could be boring. So perhaps the bully is indeed doing it out of boredom, then why not reply the bully by suggesting better ways for the bully to spend time? That could turn out to be a rather "pleasant" shock for the bully.
I also agree with Kat where new users of the New Media might be taken aback by such invasive actions of cyber bullies. Therefore I suggest that the relevant authorities can distribute information booklets that address these concerns. I applaud the fact that Kat's parents were alert and stepped in to help solve the issue. Indeed, parents play a vital role in helping their children cope with such problems and they should be taken into consideration when the relevant authorities are coming up with ways to handle such matters.
Yes, i agree with your step 2 of ways of cyberbullying, shao ching. Victims should keep the evidence and place a police report if the victims thinks that the cyberbullying is quite serious enough.
ReplyDeleteWhat type of scenario that you think one should make a police report or just ignore it?
well, currently i think they are trying to try and catch such people(cyber bullies), as for ways to stop it is quite simple, just stop replying to them and ignore them. that's the best way currently, because when they can get your attention, than taunting or bullying you would be meaningless(it's like talking to wall). correct? say yes =X
ReplyDeleteas for keeping of the message for evidence, currently there's no sure catch solution. anyway it's some of the ways which i found out over the net during research. the best way is still to ignore them.
In my opinion, I think that there are 2 types of cyber bullies. One is someone who do this out of their boredom while the other one who like to see people suffer.
ReplyDeleteInformative post about cyber-bullying. Its a really serious issue that should be tackled with harsh punishment. I agree with shao ching that we should no reply messages or email sent. We should not let those messages get into our head, most importantly, not let it affect us.
ReplyDeletei think cyber-bullies are cowards... I can understand why people would be driven to suicide over this though. The internet reaches a global audience and commenting or adding to the insults is so easy.
ReplyDeleteI guess ignoring it is best, but how do you take it when someone insults you?
Ridhuan
ReplyDeleteGood information on topic. Sad to kow that some end up suicidal upon 'cyber'actively. Using internet can be considerd as an open-minded activity. Never get too carried-away upon comments. It might be a good idea for the police to anticipate and take actions like setting up call-helpline or online 'help-desk' specially for this cyber-bullying cases. Its a new crime. So, CRIMEWATCH.
Simple, just ignore it. because you don't even know who is it. just treat it as part of bad luck, i always like to say this, "sway sway ta tio sai(unluckly step unto shit)".
ReplyDelete